TEACHER BIBLE STUDY 4 th -6 th Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Let s set the scene for the story of how Esther saved her people. The Babylonian captivity had ended while Cyrus was king. Some of God s people now referred to as Jews (people from Judah) traveled back to Judah to rebuild the temple, the city, and their lives. Others, however, stayed in Persia where life among the pagans was relatively comfortable. The king of Persia was now Ahasuerus (uh haz yoo EHR uhs), also known by his Greek name, Xerxes (ZUHRK seez). Esther was a young Jewish girl who became queen of Persia by winning a beauty contest of sorts. The former queen had defied the king and was promptly replaced. Esther had been an orphan, so her cousin Mordecai adopted her. Mordecai kept in touch with Esther while she lived in the palace. One day, the king gave Haman the Agagite a very important position in the kingdom. The king even commanded the people to bow down to Haman. But Mordecai refused. Haman was a descendant of Agag, king of the Amalekites. The nations of Israel and Amalek did not get along. Haman was angry, but instead of just punishing Mordecai, he planned to kill all the Jews in the kingdom. In today s Bible story, Mordecai turned to Esther for help. After all, she was in a position of power, and the Jews were her people. The stakes were high, but Esther approached the king and explained her people s plight. Review the details in Esther 7. The king ordered Haman to be killed on the very gallows Haman constructed for killing Mordecai. Note how Esther described Haman: The adversary and enemy is this evil Haman (Esther 7:6). We too have an adversary the Devil. He prowls around like a lion, seeking people to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) He loves nothing more than to destroy believers and hinder the work of God. Satan thought he had succeeded when Jesus died on the cross, but God raised Jesus from the dead and defeated Satan once and for all. (See Hebrews 2:14-15.) LESSON OVERVIEW/SCHEDULE Session Title: Esther Saved Her People Bible Passage: Esther 1 10 Big Picture Question: How does God use people? God uses ordinary people to carry out His plan. Key Passage: Zechariah 9:9 Unit Christ Connection: God saved His people who were in physical captivity as He would one day send Jesus to save and restore His people who are in spiritual captivity. Transition Time Welcome time 1
Activity Sheet/Table Centers Session starter (10 minutes) Lesson Countdown Introduce the session (3 minutes) Timeline map (1 minute) Big picture question (1 minute) Tell the Bible Story (10 minutes) The Gospel: God s Plan for Me (optional) Key passage (5 minutes) Discussion starter video (4 minutes) Sing (4 minutes) Prayer (2 minutes) Table Time Bible story review & Bible skills (10 minutes) Key passage activity (5 minutes) Activity choice (10 minutes) Prayer (5 minutes) THE BIBLE STORY/OVERVIEW Esther Saved Her People Esther 1 10 King Ahasuerus (uh haz yoo EHR uhs) was the king of Persia. Many years earlier, when Cyrus was king, he sent some of God s people back to Judah to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. So some of God s people went to Judah, but some of them stayed in Persia. God s people were called Jews because they were from Judah. The king of Persia needed a queen. He chose Esther to be queen. Esther was very beautiful. She was a Jew and had been raised by her cousin Mordecai (MAWR duh kigh). Esther didn t tell the king that she was a Jew. One day, Mordecai heard that Haman, a very important leader who worked for the king, was planning to kill all the Jews. Haman didn t like the Jews. Mordecai was upset! He was a Jew; he didn t want all the people he loved to be killed. Mordecai and all the Jews cried. Esther didn t know what was wrong. She sent a messenger to ask Mordecai why all the Jews were upset. Mordecai told Esther about Haman s evil plan. You have to do something! Mordecai said. You re the queen. Ask the king to stop Haman. Ask him to save the Jewish people. 2
Esther sent a message back to Mordecai. No one can approach the king unless the king calls for that person first, Esther said. The punishment is death unless the king holds out his scepter; then you may live. Mordecai encouraged Esther to think about it. You re a Jew, he said. If you don t stop Haman, he will kill you too. Maybe this is why you are the queen. Maybe God put Esther in the palace to save her people! Esther asked Mordecai to gather the Jewish people and to fast. They would not eat or drink for three days. They would pray to God for help. Then Esther would go to the king. She was willing to die to save the Jews. Mordecai, Esther, and the Jewish people fasted for three days. On the third day, Esther went to the king. The king was sitting on his throne. He saw Esther and held out his golden scepter. Esther walked toward him and touched the tip of the scepter. What is it, Queen Esther? the king asked. What do you want to ask me? I ll give you anything up to half of my kingdom. Esther said, Would you and Haman come to a feast today? I have prepared it. So Haman and the king went to Esther s feast. As they sat after eating, the king said, What do you want, Queen Esther? I ll give you anything up to half of my kingdom. Please come to my feast tomorrow, you and Haman, Esther said. The king agreed. That night Haman went home and had gallows made where he could hang Mordecai. Haman often saw Mordecai sitting outside the palace, and Haman hated him. The next day, Haman and the king went to Esther s feast. As they sat after eating, the king said, What do you want, Queen Esther? I ll give you anything up to half of my kingdom. Esther spoke up, There is a plan to kill me and my people. The king replied, Who is responsible for this plan? This evil enemy Haman! Esther said. The king was angry! He ordered for Haman to be hanged on the gallows Haman had built to kill Mordecai. Haman was hanged, and the king wasn t angry anymore. He made a law to keep the Jewish people safe from their enemies. Christ Connection: God was in control over Haman s evil plan to destroy the Jews. Like Haman, Satan wants to destroy believers. He thought he had won when Jesus died on the cross, but God raised Jesus from the dead and defeated Satan once and for all. 3
TRANSITION TIME Session Title: Esther Saved Her People Bible Passage: Esther 1 10 Big Picture Question: How does God use people? God uses ordinary people to carry out His plan. Key Passage: Zechariah 9:9 Unit Christ Connection: God saved His people who were in physical captivity as He would one day send Jesus to save and restore His people who are in spiritual captivity. Welcome time Bibles Greet each kid as he or she arrives. Use this time to collect the offering, fill out attendance sheets, and help new kids connect to your group. Invite kids to say the key passage from memory. If time allows, invite kids to say previously studied key passages from memory. Allow kids to look up passages in their Bibles to review. Activity page Table Centers (Miscellaneous Activities) Bible Book Review / Find the Scepters activity page, 1 per kid colored pencils or crayons Help kids review previously studied Bible stories by completing the Bible Book Review activity page. You may invite the group to work together to complete the page. Tell kids to record their answers on the activity page. Say God has used a lot of people in His plan to send Jesus to rescue people from sin. Today we are going to study a story from one of the books listed on your activity page. We are studying the Book of Esther. As time allows, lead kids to complete the activity page Find the Scepters. Invite kids to share how many scepters they found in the picture. Session starter (10 minutes) Option 1: Self-Portraits chalk long piece of dark paper, 1 per kid Guide kids to draw self-portraits on a sidewalk or long piece of dark paper. Encourage kids to note unique qualities they have on their self-portrait. (Examples: speak another language, play piano, are from a specific country, enjoy helping people, love to share about Jesus) Say Name some people we have studied whom God used in His plan. Great answers! Can God use you in His plan? Look at your self-portrait and think about ways God can use you and your unique qualities in His plan. As we learn about our Bible story today, think about whether or not you are willing for God to use you. 4
Option 2: Hoop Defense hula hoops, 1 per team small balls or paper wads Challenge kids to take turns standing inside the hoop. Once inside the hoop, the kid must defend the hoop from the small balls that the other kids are trying to toss inside the hoop. The hoop defender may knock a ball away from the hoop, but once it lands inside the hoop, the ball is counted as one point. Say What does it mean to defend something or someone? Today in our Bible story, a group of people were almost harmed. Listen to discover who risked her life to defend the group of people. Have you ever had to stand up for someone else? What did you do? What did you say? Encourage kids that they can always reach out to an adult for help if they need to. Transition to large group LESSON Session Title: Esther Saved Her People Bible Passage: Esther 1 10 Big Picture Question: How does God use people? God uses ordinary people to carry out His plan. Key Passage: Zechariah 9:9 Unit Christ Connection: God saved His people who were in physical captivity as He would one day send Jesus to save and restore His people who are in spiritual captivity. Countdown countdown video (insert provided DVD with lesson videos and worship) Show the countdown video as you clean-up table centers, set up classroom chairs for lesson and set it to end as large group time begins. Introduce the session (3 minutes) buckets or other construction supplies [Large Group Leader enters carrying some buckets.] Leader Hey, girls and boys! It is almost time to wrap up this construction project. Last week, the crew worked very hard to catch up and finish the building on time. Building is like working a very big puzzle. You have to coordinate all the pieces the workers, the materials, the changes exactly in the right order to finish the building on time. That actually reminds me of today s Bible story. I know sometimes it seems like a coincidence when something works out, but did you realize that everything that happens to you is already known by God? 5
Timeline map (1 minute) Timeline Map small group visual pack (Additional copies provided for Table Time Review) Review each of the Bible stories from the unit. Ask kids to provide the big picture question when you read the big picture answer. Pride steals God s glory. (Why did God judge Edom s pride?) God changed King Cyrus s heart so the Israelites could go home. (How did God keep His promise to the Israelites?) We can put God first in our lives. (How can we honor God?) Zechariah spoke about the coming Messiah. (What was Zechariah s message?) The people rebuilt the temple to worship God. (Why did the people rebuild the temple?) Leader Well, let s check which Bible story we will study this week. The last few weeks we have been studying about the exiles who went home to Jerusalem and rebuilt the temple. Not all of the exiles went home though. The exiles were spread out. Today s story is about the Jews who were living in the Persian Empire. Their king was King Xerxes. His Hebrew name was Ahasuerus, and that is what we will call him today. Ahasuerus picked a woman named Esther to be his queen. We will be studying about Esther. Raise your hand if you have heard about Esther before. Big picture question (1 minute) Leader Oh yes, I see a lot of hands raised. Esther is a very popular story in the Bible. I have a secret to tell you. It is one of my favorite stories. Before we open our Bible, let me tell you what today s big picture question is. Remember, we are searching for the answer to the big picture question in the Bible. Today our question is, How does God use people? Tell the Bible Story (10 minutes) Esther Saved Her People video Bibles, 1 per kid Bible Story Picture 11x17 poster provided Big Picture Question: How does God use people? 11x17 poster provided Leader Everyone turn in your Bible to Esther 1. If you aren t sure where Esther is located in the Bible, look at the table of contents page in the front of your Bible. All of the books of the Bible are listed on the table of contents page with the page number where you can find the beginning of each book. Open your Bible to Esther 1 and tell the Bible story in your own words, or show the Bible story video Esther Saved Her People. Leader Raise your hand if you thought that was one way cool Bible story! Esther had no idea that God would use her to save her people. Esther was willing to be brave and courageous, and God used her to rescue His people from danger. Someone stand up and tell me our big picture question. Pause and allow a kid or two to respond. Leader How does God use people? God uses ordinary people to carry out His plan. God is not looking for big, amazing superheroes. He is looking for people who are willing to listen to Him and obey Him. God uses ordinary people to carry out His plan. Do you know what that means? It means that God can use you and you and you and you and you and you and everyone in this room! 6
The story of Esther is one of many stories in the Bible where God used an ordinary person to carry out His plan. Satan wants to hurt God s people. He wants God s people to believe that God can t and won t use them. It is a lie. Remember that Jesus paid for your sin. God raised Him from the grave, and Satan has been defeated. One day Jesus will return and everyone who has repented and trusted in Him will spend eternity with Him. The Gospel: God s Plan for Me (optional) Using Scripture and the guide provided, explain to boys and girls how to become a Christian. Tell kids how they can respond, and provide teachers to speak with each kid individually. Guide teachers to use open-ended questions to allow kids to determine the direction of the conversation. Encourage boys and girls to ask their parents, small group leaders, or other adults any questions they may have about becoming a Christian. Key passage (5 minutes) Key Passage Poster: Zechariah 9:9 (11x17 poster, provided) Worship Song: Look (on provided DVD) Leader We have studied our key passage for a few weeks. Everyone who has memorized our key passage, say it with me. Lead boys and girls to say the key passage together. Invite all kids to read the key passage together if you have any kids who did not say the passage from memory. Ask for volunteers to lead the group to sing Look. Discussion Starter Video (4 minutes) Unit 21, Session 6 discussion starter video (on provided DVD) Leader Name something scary that kids your age face. Allow a few kids to respond. Leader Check out this video about a kid facing a really big fear! Show the Unit 21 Session 6 video. Leader Can you imagine riding that roller coaster? Who would be scared? I definitely would be scared. Was it scary for Esther to go before the king? The king could have been very upset and had Esther killed. Esther was brave and willing to risk her life to try to save her people. How does God use people? God uses ordinary people to carry out His plan. What is God s plan? Is it scary to think that God can use you to carry out His plan? How can you overcome any fears you face when it comes to telling people about God s plan to rescue them from sin? Select a few kids to respond. Always be encouraging to the kids who are willing to share with the group. Sing (4 minutes) Worship Song: Broken Hallelujah (on provided DVD) Leader Esther was willing to do what God wanted her to do. How does God use people? God uses ordinary people to carry out His plan. Are you willing to be used by God? If He asked you to do 7
something, would you do it? Think about your answer as you sing our theme song. Guide girls and boys to sing Broken Hallelujah. Prayer (2 minutes) Leader Well, this construction site is closing down. We have finished our building, and this week the crew will be packing up and cleaning everything. The building that occurred in our Bible story today wasn t exactly a good use of materials. God saved His people didn t He? Who did He use to save His people from Haman? Esther! How does God use people? God uses ordinary people to carry out His plan. God wants to use you to carry out His plan. This week think of one person you could share the gospel with. Ask God to use you to share the gospel with that person. Close the group in prayer. Dismiss to small groups for Table Time The Gospel: God s Plan for Me Ask kids if they have ever heard the word gospel. Clarify that the word gospel means good news. It is the message about Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation. Use the following guide to share the gospel with kids. God rules. Explain to kids that the Bible tells us God created everything, and He is in charge of everything. Invite a volunteer to read Genesis 1:1 from the Bible. Read Revelation 4:11 or Colossians 1:16-17 aloud and explain what these verses mean. We sinned. Tell kids that since the time of Adam and Eve, everyone has chosen to disobey God. (Romans 3:23) The Bible calls this sin. Because God is holy, God cannot be around sin. Sin separates us from God and deserves God s punishment of death. (Romans 6:23) God provided. Choose a child to read John 3:16 aloud. Say that God sent His Son, Jesus, the perfect solution to our sin problem, to rescue us from the punishment we deserve. It s something we, as sinners, could never earn on our own. Jesus alone saves us. Read and explain Ephesians 2:8-9. Jesus gives. Share with kids that Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again. Because Jesus gave up His life for us, we can be welcomed into God s family for eternity. This is the best gift ever! Read Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; or 1 Peter 3:18. We respond. Tell kids that they can respond to Jesus. Read Romans 10:9-10,13. Review these aspects of our response: Believe in your heart that Jesus alone saves you through what He s already done on the cross. Repent, turning from self and sin to Jesus. Tell God and others that your faith is in Jesus. Offer to talk with any child who is interested in responding to Jesus. 8
TABLE TIME LEADER Session Title: Esther Saved Her People Bible Passage: Esther 1 10 Big Picture Question: How does God use people? God uses ordinary people to carry out His plan. Key Passage: Zechariah 9:9 Unit Christ Connection: God saved His people who were in physical captivity as He would one day send Jesus to save and restore His people who are in spiritual captivity. Bible story review & Bible skills (10 minutes) Bibles, 1 per kid Timeline small group visual pack Option: Retell or review the Bible Story using the bolded text of the Bible story script. Invite kids to locate Esther 4 in the Bible. Review Esther 4:10-16. Say Why was Esther concerned? What was Mordecai s response? What did Esther ask the people to do and why? What would you have done if you were in Esther s place? How does God use people? God uses ordinary people to carry out His plan. Have you seen God use ordinary people? When? Who defeated Satan once and for all? (Satan wants to destroy believers. He thought he had won when Jesus died on the cross, but God raised Jesus from the dead and defeated Satan once and for all.) Why is this good news for people? If you choose to review with boys and girls how to become a Christian, explain that kids are welcome to speak with you or another leader if they have questions. God rules. God created and is in charge of everything. (Genesis 1:1; Revelation 4:11; Colossians 1:16-17) We sinned. Since Adam and Eve, everyone has chosen to disobey God. (Romans 3:23; 6:23) God provided. God sent His Son, Jesus, to rescue us from the punishment we deserve. (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9) Jesus gives. Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again so we can be welcomed into God s family. (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18) We respond. Believe that Jesus alone saves you. Repent. Tell God that your faith is in Jesus. (Romans 10:9-10,13) 9
Review the timeline map in the small group visual pack. Invite kids to review previous stories by naming Bible people that God used in His plan and sharing how God used each one. Continue reviewing as time allows. Key passage activity (5 minutes) Scepter Pass Key Passage Poster: Zechariah 9:9 music unsharpened pencil with eraser top to resemble scepter Form a circle. As you play the music, kids should pass the scepter around the circle. When you stop the music, the kid holding the scepter should read or quote the key passage. Play several rounds. Lead the entire group to read or quote the key passage. Say What does our key passage tell us? What is it about? Prompt kids to explain who said the key passage to what audience and whom the key passage is about. Activity choice (10 minutes) Option 1: Crown Toss Review Game bucket or bowl crowns - silver binding rings Explain to the boys and girls that you are going to play a review game. If kids answer a question correctly, everyone will have one chance to toss the crown into the bucket. Name the king of Persia. (Ahasuerus, Esther 1:1) Name Esther s cousin. (Mordecai, Esther 2:6-7) The Israelites were called by this name after the exile. (Jews or Jewish people; Esther 2:5-6; 3:6) Who was planning to kill all of the Jews? (Haman, Esther 3:6) What did Mordecai want Esther to do? (He wanted her to ask the king to save the Jewish people, Esther 4:8) What could happen to Esther if the king did not want to see her? (She could be killed, Esther 4:11) What did the king extend to show Esther that she was welcome? (golden scepter, Esther 5:2) What did Esther prepare for the king so she could talk to him about the Jews? (two feasts, Esther 5:4,8) What did the king do to save the Jews? (He made a law to keep them safe, Esther 8:8-11) What happened to Haman? (He was killed, Esther 7:10) Say How does God use people? God uses ordinary people to carry out His plan. 10
Option 2: Tiles Allergy Alert sprinkles dipping chocolate marshmallows pretzel sticks Guide kids to create a scepter snack using the supplies provided. By sliding a pretzel stick into the marshmallow, kids will have a scepter they may decorate. Say Where in our story was a scepter important? If the king had not held out his scepter to Esther, she would have been killed. God was in control. The king held out his scepter and God used Esther to rescue His people from Haman. Name a time you had to be courageous or brave. Do you think Esther struggled to overcome her fear and approach the king? What did Esther ask the people to do before she went to the king? She asked the people to fast. The people fasted for three days. Esther saved her people! How does God use people? God uses ordinary people to carry out His plan. Prayer (5 minutes) Say What areas of your life could God use you to encourage, serve, bless, or tell someone about Jesus? Remind kids that God uses people in big ways and little ways. Both are important. Say How does God use people? God uses ordinary people to carry out His plan. Invite kids to share an area of their lives in which they are not sure how God could use them. Close the group in prayer, thanking God for His wisdom and ability to use ordinary people in His plan. Clean-Up Room 11
Instructions: Name a Bible story from at least five of the books listed. Try to name a story from every book. UNIT 21 Session 6 Older Kids Activity Pages The Exiles Returned 2013 Lifeway
Instructions: Find the golden scepters hidden in the palace scene. UNIT 21 Session 6 Older Kids Activity Pages The Exiles Returned 2013 Lifeway
Family Journal Page The Exiles Returned whom God has used w no k ey th le op pe e to Invite kids to nam about people they go k in th to s id k ge ra in His plan. Encou her life situations. ot in e se or h, it w ch ur school with, attend ch le. Review the story of op pe e bl Bi e m na so al Family members may the Bible story. Write ad re or ll te to s id k Esther by allowing God to help each family g in k as ge pa l na ur jo a prayer on the ue God in His plan to resc by ed us be to ng illi w member to be people from sin. Esther Saved Her People Esther 1 10 Preschool Key Passage: Zechariah 9:9 Big Picture Question: How did God use Esther? God used Esther to help save His people. Christ Connection: The Jews were in danger, and they needed someone to save them. God made Esther the queen so she could help the Jews. Today, everyone sins and is in danger. We need someone to save us. God sent His Son, Jesus, to save people from sin. Kids Key Passage: Zechariah 9:9 Big Picture Question: How does God use people? God uses ordinary people to carry out His plan. Christ Connection: God was in control over Haman s evil plan to destroy the Jews. Like Haman, Satan wants to destroy believers. He thought he had won when Jesus died on the cross, but God raised Jesus from the dead and defeated Satan once and for all. Unit 21 Session 6 OK TO PRINT
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9 Unit 21 Key Passage Poster (ESV) OK TO PRINT The Exiles Returned